A long Columbus Day weekend lies ahead and I'm writing my weekly update a day early. Twin A came home Friday night for her fall break and we have a lot planned - typical fall activities Saturday a trip to the Saratoga Springs-area tomorrow to see my father-in-law (and admire the foliage), and hopefully some shopping on Monday. It seems like ages since I've been to the mall!
Currently reading:
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Finished this week:
The End of Your life Book Club by Will Schwalbe
I really enjoyed this audiobook. Will's mother was quite inspiring and I've added several books to my reading list. Review coming soon.
Up next:
Starting Out in the Evening by Brian Morton
I loved Florence Gordon so much, I borrowed this 1998 novel from the library.
New books:
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez
This author will be speaking in Syracuse in the spring. The e-book is free right now if you're interested.
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
I've been wanting to read Ferrante for a long time. The kindle version of Book 1 of her Neapolitan Novels is currently available for $2.99... and I love the cover.
On the blog:
Audiobook review: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Thoughts on Reading An American Tragedy (Classics Club spin)
Tuesday Intro: Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
In the kitchen:
We're in full "fall mode" now... soup in the crockpot, a chili-cornbread casserole, and the first pumpkin pie of the season. It's my father's favorite, so I surprised him with it Thursday afternoon.
How was your week?
This post will link to It's Monday, What Are You Reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey.
I don't get the holiday off tomorrow, boo hoo! I do have a long weekend coming at the end of the month, but it seems a ways away. I've had cornbread on my mind, and it's cooled off enough to bake again, so that might be something for this afternoon. Is there a bookstore at the mall :)
ReplyDeleteLisa - My husband is working today, too... so not a long weekend for everyone around here, either. It looks like we're going to reconsider the trip to the mall today and do some cooking/baking to restock Tein A's ref rig before she heads back to school tomorrow.
DeleteOur weekend is much like yours JoAnn, I love Columbus Day weekend. I hope you like the Ferrante books, I've read all except the latest by the auhor. This one was good, but I loved the earlier books more. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteDiane - I'm pretty sure you're the one who go me to add Ferrante to my list ;-) Loved the photos of your weekend!
DeleteBeautiful photo of the lake and your pumpkin pie! Have great holiday weekend!
ReplyDeletePat - Thanks! We had a wonderful visit with my FIL yesterday and the foliage was gorgeous, too.
DeleteIt sounds like a perfect weekend! {BTW, um, my favorite pie is apple and I'm free on Thursdays...}
ReplyDeleteAudrey - Wouldn't it be fun to meet somewhere for team and pie on a Thursday!?
DeleteI can never get enough of your lakeside photos. Such a gorgeous view! I wish we had a long weekend too but I have to get back to work tomorrow. That pie looks yummy - looking forward to getting started with the Fall dishes!
ReplyDeleteAthira - Thanks! We've lived here for 20 years now and I still appreciate the view every single day.
DeleteI make it a point not to go to the mall much! It is like its own separate circle of hell, at least down here where it is overrun with loud, manic tourists from all over the world. And I didn't love Wicked either. The narration (at least the version I had) did not help matters. I think he actually made it worse. I have very mixed feelings, and I'm trying to sort them out, but won't write up my thoughts until a little later in the month.
ReplyDeleteSandy - You may be right about the narrator making Something Wicked even worse... seriously considering a DNF now :(
DeleteOh, I love fall and all the seasonal goodies, like the pumpkin pie. Yummy! I'm likely to eat it all through the year, however...LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog...and enjoy those great books. I want to read Florence Gordon... and the other book by the author looks good, too.
Laurel-Rain Snow - I started Morton's older book yesterday and it is every bit as good as Florence Gordon so far. Very happy to have stumbled upon a new author! Hope you have a great week.
DeleteThat was sweet of you to surprise your dad with a pumpkin pie! I did the same thing for my sisters with pumpkin muffins. They're our favorite an d we wait all year long to make them.
ReplyDeleteHopefully you end up liking Something Wicked. If not, you can always get DNF it. ;-)
Vasilly - Pumpkin mania really seems to strike this time of year. I'm shocked by all the new products with pumpkin flavoring. Even saw a chapstick this week! Not too sure about that one...
DeleteI took my dad some pumpkin bars the other day when I went to help them with some stuff and you'd have thought I brought manna from heaven! How nice to be able to make them happy so easily - heaven knows we owe them.
ReplyDeleteLisa - SO very true!! I haven't made pumpkin bars the last couple of years, but you have me wanting some now.
DeleteHope you had a very nice weekend. I liked your review of Eleanor & Park, I was going to read a different Rainbow book if I read another of hers, but maybe I'll try that one. It does sound good, and I like books that take you back like that.
ReplyDeleteFall mode foods are my favorite, without a doubt. Another perk of this time of year. :)
Greg - The weekend was excellent! Glad you liked the review of E&P. It seemed like I was the only one not reading Rainbow Rowell. Almost makes me think I should read more YA.
DeleteSo glad to have Columbus Day off! It is funny how I can appreciate ONE day so much more than I do the whole summer; it shows how one can take things for granted.
ReplyDeleteI was inspired by Will's mother, too, and loved their relationship so focused on literature.
Your header is especially beautiful.
Bellezza - Columbus Day weekend has always been a favorite for me, too! The foliage is usually at peak and, in the past, we often attended a wine tour this weekend, too.
DeleteI'm very tempted to read Buddenbrooks with you. It's on my shelf and on my Classics Club list. We'll be away for part of next month, but I'm going to take it with me... fingers crossed.
I enjoyed The End of Your Life Book Club too. The changing colors here in Michigan are just beautiful. My husband has been wanting me to make apple crisp. Maybe this weekend! Enjoy the week.
ReplyDeleteNise' - My husband prefers apple to pumpkin and I haven't baked him a pie or crisp yet. This week, for sure!
DeleteOk... The End of Your Life Book Club sounds kinda strange. Off to read more about it!!!
ReplyDeleteDeborah - The End of Your Life Book Club is a very unusual memoir. The author structures the story of his mother's illness around the books they read.... very well done!
DeleteYummy food you mentioned! I love Pumpkin Pie, chili and homemade soup.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of your books, but that gives me incentive to go check them out further. Have an enjoyable week.
Rita - It looks like today will turn into another day in the kitchen. My daughter will head back to school tomorrow and we want to stock her refrig with meals and treats! It's been so nice to have her home this weekend!
DeleteI always find something new and delicious when I stop by your blog. Note to self: Stop by Lakeside Musing more often!
ReplyDeletereaderbuzz.blogspot.com
Deb Nance - Aww, thanks :-)
DeleteLove that pie!! I'm still waiting for Florence Gordon from my library (there's a wait list for the eBook). Enjoy the long, fall weekend. I'm working today.
ReplyDeleteBeth F - Hope you like Florence Gordon. His older novel is turning out to be very good, too... so glad to have discovered this author!
DeleteThat pie looks delicious!!
ReplyDeleteIt's always so nice to find an author you love so much that you seek out all their other books to read. And then sad when you finish reading them all!
Quixotic Magpie - So true!!
DeleteThanks for a great post--I stopped in the middle of it to get the free download of How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents. I've wanted to read it since I first heard of it years ago.
ReplyDeleteI, too, will try an audio/print combination when the print version of a book alone doesn't work for me. Hope it helps with your current read, I find the title interesting...sorry the books isn't.
Pumpkin pie and foliage are two of fall's best offerings. Your pie looks delicious--hope your dad enjoyed it.
Thanks for visiting my blog and for your good wishes. Have a great week (it's so nice when the week starts with a holiday)!
Catherine - I've been meaning to read The Garcia Girls for years... so glad to stumble upon this offer! I hope you like the book, too.
DeleteSo far the print/audio is not helping Something Wicked This Way Comes. I'm just about ready to abandon it.
Hope you're enjoying the long weekend, too.
You are busy on many levels. The pie and the scenery and the books all look great. Have a wonderful week.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Harvee. I love this time of year!
DeleteThe pumpkin pie looks wonderful. I am not only working but working 11.5 hours on Monday. We have parent-teacher conferences. I do get Thursday and Friday off though. Here's my week. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteKathy - Glad to hear you get a long weekend next weekend.... hope you get to relax and enjoy!
DeleteYum - pumpkin pie is one of my favorites and we always serve it at Thanksgiving dinner. I also need to read Florence Gordon...it's on my TBR...yours and Shannon at River City Reading's review convinced me!
ReplyDeleteSarah - I'm enjoying Brian Morton'e earlier novel just as much as Florence Gordon... can't believe I'd never heard of this author before reading Shannon's review!
DeleteI love Bradbury, but that particular book isn'tone of my favorites. I really enjoyed the audio of The End of Your life Book Club too!
ReplyDeleteMelissa - I'm just pages away from DNFing Something Wicked now. Bradbury may not be an author I'll ever warm up to :(
DeleteHi JoAnn, loved this blog post! There is so much inspiration here. Ok, I am currently reading "Under the Wide and Starry Sky" by Nancy Horan. It is very good. And just to join in on your cooking report, tonight I made the butternut squash salad from Barefoot Contessa and a butterflied roast chicken with chile-cinnamon rub from Fine Cooking magazine, fall issue, 2001. You must be having a divine fall in New York. It is finally starting to cool down here in L.A. Thank goodness!
ReplyDeleteSunday - I'm glad to know you're enjoying Under the Wide and Starry Sky. That book caught my eye, but I haven't seen anyone review it yet. Both recipes sound good, too! I spent most of yesterday in the kitchen making lasagna and various casseroles to stock my daughter's freezer for the rest of the semester. Fall is my favorite time of year - bright sunshine, bright colors, and warm flavors. Glad L.A. is cooling down at last!
DeleteThat pie looks delicious! I love all things pumpkin during the fall. :)
ReplyDeleteHow the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents is supposed to be a powerful read. I hope you enjoy it!
Lindsey - I'm looking forward to reading Alvarez before her lecture this spring... timing for the free offer was perfect!
DeleteOh, that pie! I wish my husband liked pumpkin. I suppose I could always bake one and share it with my co-workers. I have a recipe for pumpkin bars that are amazing, but he won't eat those either!
ReplyDeleteHope you had a great week and are enjoying your weekend. Glad you enjoyed The End of Your Life Book Club. :)
Les - Sadly, my husband is not a pumpkin fan either... my father definitely benefits from that! I've never made pumpkin bars. They sound wonderful and easy to share.
DeleteHere's a link to the recipe, JoAnn. It's been ages since I've made these!
DeleteThanks, Les! Pinning this one :)
Delete